A need for individual data analyses for assessments of temporal control: Invertebrate fixed interval performance

Abstract

We outline several experimental variables and address the inconsistencies of these variables within the invertebrate fixed interval literature. We posit some previous inconsistencies within the invertebrate fixed interval literature may be due to the utilization of aggregate versus individual analyses and contend the latter are critical in order for conclusions to be made about species' abilities to emit responses that can come under temporal control. To exemplify these statements, we exposed honey bees Apis mellifera lingustica (N = 13) to either an FI 15 s or FI 30 s schedule of reinforcement and analyzed subjects' cumulative response records, response bin levels (i.e., the number of responses in each equal division of the fixed interval), quarter lives (i.e., when the first quarter of the trial's responses occurred in the fixed interval), inter-response time patterns, response duration patterns, and trial durations. No measures clearly indicated individual subjects' responding came under temporal control of the fixed interval schedules; however, pooled group analyses did produce seemingly clear evidence of temporal control.